ATHENS: Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis promised on Saturday to increase pensions, cut taxes and social security contributions, and increase the minimum wage in 2025, as thousands rallied to protest a high cost of living. In his annual economic policy speech at the Thessaloniki trade fair in northern Greece, he said Greece will create more jobs, increase pensions by up to 2.5 percent in 2025 and will raise the monthly minimum wage from 830 euros ($920) to 950 euros gradually by 2027. He added that social security contributions would be cut by 1 point. Greece is still recovering from a debt crisis that wiped out nearly a fourth of its economic output in 2009-2018, due to austerity measures that included repeated wage and pension cuts.

But over recent years it has been achieving strong economic growth, which is seen at 2.5 percent this year. Mitsotakis said Greece has changed, with strong economic growth that should be distributed in a balanced way, and be reflected in pensions and wages. He also promised to maintain fiscal prudence in line with European Union rules. “I don’t have with me today a bag with unreasonable handouts but only suggestions for useful and effective choices,” said the leader of the centre-right New Democracy party, which came to power in 2019 and won a second term last year.

Outside the venue, thousands of people rallied chanting slogans and holding banners reading “No to wages of starvation!” and “We can live differently”. A special levy on the self-employed will be scrapped next year, while 243 million euros, a revenue from a windfall tax on energy companies, will be distributed to vulnerable citizens in December, he said.

A lingering cost of living crisis after the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of devastating wildfires and floods, along with certain reforms, have put off some core voters of New Democracy, which has seen a drop in popularity according to opinion polls. Greece will also spend 1.6 billion euros in 2025 to boost its defense, Mitsotakis said. And to help halt a tumbling birthrate, he pledged to extend a housing plan and support young parents with benefits and tax exemptions. — Reuters

Mitsotakis also promised to boost civil protections, support farmers who have been hit by climate change, and reduce a property tax for home owners who insure their home against natural disasters, among other measures. According to sources, the government plans to spend 3 billion euros in 2025 alone, amounting to about 1.5 percent of GDP. Mitsotakis is expected to hold a press conference on Sunday. – Reuters